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michael gove following abelard’s education programme?
“Its corridors and classrooms are permeated by an atmosphere of calm study and scholarly reflection, its students are attentive and engaged. And this year 91% of its students secured five good GCSEs including English and Maths. A record which puts it above scores of independent schools and other selective establishments.”
From my site, 23rd October 1999
1) Best teaching practices would, from my experience, have approximately
90% of 16 year olds through 4 ‘A’ grade GCSEs at 16 years of age (currently this standard is achieved by 13.2% of 16 year olds). Best teaching practices would also probably enable at least
15% of students through a first-class science degree at 21 (at present only
5% achieve any manner of science degree). I do not include present psychology
and sociology courses as science. I do include engineering.
There is, of course, no need or reason to stop learning at these arbitrary
ages. These figures may well prove to be underestimates as we learn more.
Society would look entirely different if such practice were widespread.
Ed Balls, Stephen Twigg and Ed Miliband – Oxford PPEists all – have been
united in opposition to the EBacc.
Even though it has exposed inequality in our society much more starkly
than any Gini coefficient calculation could.
At the moment just 16% of students in the state sector secure the EBacc.
Only 23% are even entered for it. More than three-quarters of state
school students have been denied access to the qualifications which will
empower them to choose their own path.
But for Labour that’s not only no cause for concern – it’s a truth which
should be suppressed.
The current leadership of the Labour Party react to the idea that
working class students might study the subjects they studied with the
same horror that the Earl of Grantham showed when a chauffeur wanted to
marry his daughter.
Labour, under their current leadership, want to be the Downton Abbey
party when it comes to educational opportunity. They think working class
children should stick to the station in life they were born into – they
should be happy to be recognised for being good with their hands and not
presume to get above themselves.
I’ll give Michael Gove 85-90%, because he is rather too convinced that there can be a satisfactory education based solely on mass production.
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